Kicks

[WhiteWizard]

Hi have been doing Lau Gar for a couple of months now glad to say i am improving(just) i was just wondering if anyone knows any techniques to improve balance when kicking.

Also how do you increase the height of your kicks

[Jamo]

Hello White Wizard,

For the first part, I recommend practicing balance drills for extended periods of time...take the kick that you wish to perform to two steps; 1) balancing on one leg @ the chamber point (with the leg cocked & ready to kick), and 2) balancing on one leg with the extended kick. Start at 30-45 second for each step and each side, and continue to increase the time period, when you start feeling comfortable, by 15-30 seconds.

If you want added challenges, then find some ankle weights & feel the burn :) !

For the second part, I would recommend constant stretching in the forward and side splits positions. HOWEVER, make sure your body is very warm before attempting this...don't want to see this quest for height improvement tear a groin muscle or a hamstring (OOOOO...Talk about PAINFUL).

Good luck,

Jamo

[Andy Murray]

Discuss this with you on Thursday next week Andrew, as I'm coming down in Frasers absence!

[stvn]

Sounds familiar White Wizard.
I started training in Lau Gar toward the end of last year and found I had exactly the same problem, especially with my left side kick. My instructor told me to practice the kicks very slowly as you use the same muscles to kick at this speed as you would if you kick faster but you learn better control. I found it a lot harder to perfom the kick when done slowly but got results by just sticking at it.
The height of my kick was not something I really worried about too much but found it improving as time passed and my control gradually increased.
Hope this helps.

Stvn.

[johndoch]

I like the following as good balancing exercise, its from a wushu book I've got.

first stand in a neutral stance with your hands by your side.
Then raise both arms out to the side until level with your shoulders. Next raise your knee as High as possible, hold for ten seconds to start with. After this slowly extend your foot behind you until your body and leg are parallel with the floor all the time staying on one foot. hold this position for 10 secs. Next is the tricky bit. from the last position twist your upper body so that one hand is pointing to the floor and the other to the roof (if your standing on your left leg then your left hand points to the floor). At the same time bend the leg in the air to a 90 degree angle and hold for 10. repeat the process backwards till you get back to neutral stance and repeat with opposite leg.

hope that make sense.

[WhiteWizard]

thanks guys Greyghost went through some exercises and if i keep at them i think it will help the problem feels like my muscles just aren't used to that type of movement so lots of training for them.